Solid animal feed supplement and method for its production

Abstract

An acidic molasses-based liquid animal feed supplement including nutritionally appropriate phosphorus and magnesium and, optionally, non-protein nitrogen, is hardened into a solid form by the addition of a small amount of a soluble calcium compound, preferably calcium chloride, so that the calcium to magnesium weight ratio is between about 1.5 and 3. The disclosed solid animal feed supplement is sufficiently palatable to permit its free choice feeding, yet discourages overfeeding by its hardness and acidity. The block contains sufficient molasses to help meet the energy requirements for maintenance and weight gain of grazing animals, but is sufficiently low in pH to minimize the risk of ammonia poisoning due to breakdown of non-protein nitrogen sources to free ammonia during rumination. The solid animal feed supplement is prepared by mixing together two substantially homogeneous liquid solutions, either or both of which contain molasses, but with one containing the soluble calcium compound and one containing the phosphorus compound, usually in the form of orthophosphate, to provide a liquid mixture having an acid pH, preferably in the range below about 4.0 pH units. In situ reaction of the magnesium, phosphorus and calcium compounds within this pH range quickly hardens the solution into a solid molasses block having a hardness of 80 or less in 0.1 millimeter penetrometer units.

I claim: 
     
       1. A solution comprising: (a) sugar from a sugar source;   (b) dissolved phosphate ions present in a concentration of at least about 1 weight percent expressed as phosphorous;   (c) dissolved calcium ions; and   (d) dissolved magnesium ions, wherein the weight ratio of the dissolved calcium ions to the dissolved magnesium ions in the solution is about 1.5 to about 3, and the solution is capable of solidifying into a solid acidic feed block supplement.   
     
     
       2. The solution of claim 1 wherein the acidic feed block supplement has a hardness below about 80 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       3. The solution of claim 1 wherein the acidic feed block supplement has a hardness below about 50 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       4. The solution of claim 1 wherein the acidic feed block supplement has a hardness below about 30 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       5. The solution of claim 1 having a pH of less than about 4. 
     
     
       6. The solution of claim 1 having a pH of less than 3.75. 
     
     
       7. The solution of claim 1 having a pH of about 1.5 to about 3.75. 
     
     
       8. The solution of claim 1 having a pH of less than about 4, and wherein the acidic feed block supplement has a hardness below about 80 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       9. The solution of claim 1 having a weight ratio of dissolved calcium to dissolved magnesium of about 1.75 to 2.25. 
     
     
       10. The solution of claim 1 having a weight ratio of dissolved calcium to dissolved magnesium of about 1.75 to 2.25 and a pH of less than about 4, and wherein the acid feed block supplement has a hardness below about 80 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       11. The solution of claim 1 further comprising an additional nutritionally suitable ingredient. 
     
     
       12. The solution of claim 1 wherein the solution is substantially devoid of magnesium oxide. 
     
     
       13. The solution of claim 1 consisting essentially of (a)-(d). 
     
     
       14. The solution of claim 1 comprising dissolved phosphate ions in a concentration of 1 to 2 weight percent expressed as phosphorous. 
     
     
       15. The solution of claim 1 comprising 1 to 4 weight percent dissolved calcium ions. 
     
     
       16. The solution of claim 1 comprising 1 to 2 weight percent dissolved calcium ions. 
     
     
       17. The solution of claim 1 comprising about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent dissolved magnesium. 
     
     
       18. The solution of claim 1 comprising about 1 to about 2 weight percent dissolved magnesium. 
     
     
       19. An acidic feed block supplement formed by solidifying the solution of claim 18. 
     
     
       20. The solution of claim 1 comprising 1 to 4 weight percent dissolved calcium ions and about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent dissolved magnesium. 
     
     
       21. The solution of claim 1 having a weight ratio of dissolved calcium to dissolved magnesium of about 1.75 to 2.25 and a pH of less than about 4, and comprising 1 to 4 weight percent dissolved calcium ions and about 0.5 to about 2 weight percent dissolved magnesium, and wherein the acidic feed block supplement has a hardness below about 80 penetrometer units. 
     
     
       22. The solution of claim 1 capable of solidifying into the solid acidic animal feed supplement in less than about 5 days. 
     
     
       23. A intermediate solution comprising: (a) sugar from a sugar source;   (b) dissolved phosphate ions from a water soluble phosphate source, the phosphate being present in a concentration of at least about 1 weight percent expressed as phosphorous;   (c) dissolved calcium ions form a source that is dissolvable in the sugar source; and   (d) dissolved magnesium ions from a water soluble magnesium source, wherein the weight ratio of the dissolved calcium ions to the dissolved magnesium ions in the solution is about 1.5 to about 3, and the solution has a pH less than about 4 and is capable of solidifying into a solid acidic feed block supplement in less than about 5 days.   
     
     
       24. The solution of claim 23 wherein the solution is substantially devoid of magnesium oxide. 
     
     
       25. The solution of claim 23 consisting essentially of (a)-(d). 
     
     
       26. The solution of claim 25 further consisting essentially of at least one other nutritionally suitable ingredient. 
     
     
       27. A solution having a pH less than about 4 and comprising: (a) sugar from a sugar source;   (b) a dissolved phosphate ions concentration of at least 1 weight percent expressed as phosphorous;   (c) 1 to 4 weight percent dissolved calcium ions; and   (d) 0.5 to 2 weight percent dissolved magnesium ions, wherein the weight ratio of the dissolved calcium ions to the dissolved magnesium ions in the solution is about 1.5 to about 3, and the solution is capable of solidifying into a solid acidic feed block supplement having a hardness below about 80 penetrometer units.   
     
     
       28. The solution of claim 27 comprising about 1 to 2 weight percent magnesium. 
     
     
       29. An acidic feed block supplement formed by solidifying the solution of claim 28.